On Monday, US Senator Robert Menendez firmly declared his innocence in response to the expanded bribery allegations leveled against him. These charges paint a picture of Menendez as having accepted an array of bribes—including gold bars, a sum of cash, and a luxurious Mercedes Benz. These were allegedly in exchange for his assistance to three businessmen.
Menendez, a Democrat representing New Jersey, made his plea in a federal court in New York. During this session, US District Judge Sidney Stein presided but dismissed Menendez’s plea to postpone the trial set for May 6. Having been a member of the Senate since 2006, Menendez, after the hearing, remained tight-lipped about his intentions regarding seeking reelection.